Best Schools in Brownsville, Texas
75 schools · 47 Elementary · 12 Middle · 14 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Brownsville?
Use this page to compare every school in Brownsville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Bryss Academy
Elementary · Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Promesa College Prep Brownsville
Elementary · Valere Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Hudson EL
Elementary · Brownsville ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Brownsville for 2026 are Bryss Academy (8.9/10), Promesa College Prep Brownsville (8.8/10), and Hudson EL (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
75
66 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$126,000
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
75
66 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$126,000
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 96% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Brownsville schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Brownsville schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Brownsville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 75). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryss Academy | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Promesa College Prep Brownsville | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Hudson EL | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Ortiz EL | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Paredes EL | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Benavides EL | 8.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Idea Robindale College Preparatory | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Pullam EL | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Harmony School of Innovation - Brownsville | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Burns EL | 8.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $52,250
- Median home value
- $126,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
55% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Brownsville compares
Texas rank
#293 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$52k
70% of Texas median
Schools in this city
73
Education Snapshot
Brownsville, TexasBrownsville's school landscape spans 75 schools across 6 districts, serving approximately 47,066 students in a system weighted toward the early grades — 47 of those campuses are elementary, compared to 14 high schools and 12 middle schools. Despite a median household income of $49,034, which runs 39% below the Texas state median of $79,932, Brownsville's 73 scored schools average 6.7/10 on MySchoolScout's composite rating, beating the Texas state average of 6.3/10 by nearly half a point. Fifteen charter schools represent 20% of campuses and expand family choice across the city. Educational attainment context sharpens the picture: only 21% of Brownsville adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, making school quality consequential for economic mobility here. That the city outperforms the state rating average despite its income profile is a signal worth weighing before scrolling to the school list.
About Schools in Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville's public school system spans 66 ranked schools, giving parents a broad field to evaluate. The city-wide average sits at 4.6 out of 10 — a useful anchor when comparing individual campuses. Performance is heavily concentrated at the top: only 6 schools, or 9% of the total, score 7 or above. That means the gap between Brownsville's strongest and typical campuses is wide, and school selection matters more here than in cities with a higher baseline.
Charter networks drive the highest-performing options. PROMESA COLLEGE PREP BROWNSVILLE leads the city with an 8.8 score — the top-ranked campus overall and the strongest elementary option by a wide margin. At the high school level, three IDEA campuses dominate: IDEA Sports Park College Preparatory posts an 8.6, followed by IDEA Frontier College Preparatory at 7.2 and IDEA Brownsville College Preparatory at 7.1. IDEA's consistent presence across multiple campuses makes it a practical through-line for families mapping a path from middle school through graduation.
Elementary options outside the top tier are more limited. PROMESA leads at 8.8, and Ortiz Elementary scores a 7.5 — the only other elementary school among the city's six highest-rated campuses. Families prioritizing early-grade performance should research enrollment windows for both campuses well before the school year starts.
For parents comparing Brownsville against other Texas cities, the 4.6 average and 9% high-performer rate give a concrete picture: strong schools exist here, but they are concentrated in a small cluster. Among the city's six 7-plus-rated campuses, three are IDEA high schools and two are the leading elementary options. If access to any of those campuses is your target, verify admission timelines and eligibility early. For families whose assigned school falls near the city average, this comparison data makes the case for actively shopping alternatives rather than defaulting to proximity.
Elementary Schools
47 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 542 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 193 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 700 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 533 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 5 | 776 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 868 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 7 | 905 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 8 | 641 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 9 | 547 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 10 | 738 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
Show all 47 elementary schools in Brownsville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 571 students · 6th–10th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 1,047 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 601 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 882 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 5 | 850 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 549 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 494 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 9 | 653 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 10 | 847 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
Show all 12 middle schools in Brownsville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 555 students · 6th–12th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 754 students · 6th–12th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 689 students · 6th–12th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 338 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 5 | 1,629 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 6 | 2,294 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 408 students · 6th–12th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 800 students · 6th–12th | 7.1 |
| 9 | 2,278 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 10 | 1,683 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
Show all 14 high schools in Brownsville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Baptist School
Private
187 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 20 students · 2nd–11th | — |
Schools in Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas · 75 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$52,250
Median Home Value
$126,000
Median Rent
$929/mo
Population
210,916
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
62%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Community Profile
Brownsville has a median household income of $52,250. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $126,000, with a median rent of $929/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 47
- Middle
- 12
- High
- 14
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (6)
RAUL YZAGUIRRE SCHOOLS FOR SUCCESS
7 schools · 1,888 students
TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-RIO GRANDE VALLEY
4 schools · 465 students
IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
123 schools · 76,819 students
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS - SOUTH TEXAS
9 schools · 4,855 students
VALERE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
4 schools · 963 students
BROWNSVILLE ISD
56 schools · 37,065 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Brownsville, Texas
How many schools are in Brownsville, Texas?
Brownsville has 75 schools, including 66 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Brownsville, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Brownsville is 6.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Brownsville, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Brownsville on MySchoolScout is Bryss Academy with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Brownsville, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Brownsville on MySchoolScout is Bryss Academy with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Brownsville, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Brownsville on MySchoolScout is Idea Robindale College Preparatory with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Brownsville, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Brownsville on MySchoolScout is Harmony School of Innovation - Brownsville with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve Brownsville, Texas?
Brownsville is served by 6 school districts: Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success, Triumph Public High Schools-rio Grande Valley, Idea Public Schools, Harmony Public Schools - South Texas, Valere Public Schools, Brownsville ISD.
What is the education level in Brownsville, Texas?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Brownsville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Brownsville, Texas?
The median household income in Brownsville is approximately $52,250 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Brownsville, Texas?
Yes, Brownsville has 9 private schools alongside 66 public schools. The top-rated private school is Brownsville Montessori Academy with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brownsville, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Brownsville is 14.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Brownsville, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.